City of Santa Clarita - Institute for Local Government

1 city of Santa Clarita Beacon Award Accomplishments to Date and Best Practice Activities CRITERIA AWARD LEVELS SILVER GOLD PLATINUM Agency Facilities GHG Reductions - - - Electricity Savings 5% 10% 20% Natural Gas Savings - - - Community GHG Reductions - - - Activity Promoting Energy Efficiency - - - Best Practice Areas Completed Activities in Each Area 1 3 - Accomplishments to Date (As of 9/22/11) About This Document This document tracks and shares Local agency best practice activities completed and counted as part of a city or county s participation the climate change and sustainability recognition program, the Beacon Award: Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change.

2 The Beacon Award is a statewide program recognizing cities and counties that are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy and adopt policies and programs that promote sustainability. The Beacon Award is sponsored by the Institute for Local Government and the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative. The Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) provides support to cities and counties to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy. SEEC is an alliance between three statewide non-profit organizations and California s four Investor-Owned Utilities. It builds upon the unique resources, expertise and Local agency relationships of each partner.

3 This program is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric, Company, Southern California Edison, and Southern California Gas Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. city of Santa Clarita Best Practice Activities Institute for Local Government 1 Table of Contents 1. Energy Efficiency & Conservation .. 2 2. Water & Wastewater Systems .. 5 3. Green Building .. 8 4. Waste Reduction & Recycling .. 10 5. Climate-Friendly Purchasing .. 13 6. Renewable Energy & Low-Carbon Fuels .. 15 7. Efficient Transportation.

4 18 8. Land Use & Community Design .. 20 9. Open Space & Offsetting Carbon Emissions .. 23 10. Promoting Community & Individual Action .. 28 city of Santa Clarita Best Practice Activities Institute for Local Government 2 1. Energy Efficiency & Conservation Level Completed Activities Reported Silver 1. Member of the Community Energy Partnership is collaboration between seven cities in Southern California, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Company, and the Energy Coalition. Its mission is to deliver effective energy efficiency programs that forge positive relationships, motivate communities to reduce environmental impacts and promote sustainable cities.

5 The Community Energy Partnership brings energy efficiency benefits to many different individuals and communities including homeowners, renters, business owners, senior citizens, and cities. 07-2011 Gold 1. Over the past several years, the General Services Division has implemented several programs to upgrade energy efficiency strategies in the existing city Hall facility. To date, 66 incandescent bulbs have been replaced with more energy efficient lighting in the city Council Chamber and in various conference rooms. This results in approximately $7,500 in energy savings per year. 2. city Hall has installed over 30 light-sensors in offices and conference rooms throughout the facility.

6 The city is currently considering the purchase and installation of 106 additional sensors. 07-2011 07-2011 Platinum 1. The city also worked with the Community Energy Partnership to benchmark three facilities ( city Hall, city Corporate Yard, and the Newhall Community Center) in Energy Star Portfolio Manager. The city anticipates benchmarking the George A. Caravalho Activities Center and Transit Maintenance Facility in the future. 07-2011 city of Santa Clarita Best Practice Activities Institute for Local Government 3 2. In 2010 the city of Santa Clarita undertook a significant program to reduce the energy consumption of municipal operations in the field.

7 Included in this program was the replacement of high pressure sodium and metal halide lights for energy efficient induction lighting at selected locations throughout the city . The replacement program was entirely funded by the Department of Energy American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant program. The program replaced 756 lights total including: a. 110 lights over 11 city bridges b. 158 lights in city parking lots c. 488 lights in 17 different city parks The total estimated annual savings from these improvements is nearly 284,000 kilowatt hours translating into an annual savings of approximately $32,100.

8 Maintenance costs will also be reduced as the life expectancy of the new bulbs is four-times that of the bulbs they have replaced. 3. In 2010 the city of Santa Clarita received funding via the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. The city allocated $175,000 of these funds towards a grant program to provide assistance to businesses interested in making energy efficiency related improvements. Called the Green Energy Partnership, the city -administered program provided individual businesses with as much as $25,000 for solar-related projects and up to $10,000 for all other types of energy efficiency projects.

9 Participants in the program were encouraged to use Local companies to perform the work; a maximum of 75% of the project cost was eligible for funding through the program if a Local business was contracted to perform the work, while a 07-2011 07-2011 city of Santa Clarita Best Practice Activities Institute for Local Government 4 50% maximum was eligible if a Local company was not contracted to perform the work. Over 20 businesses applied and 17 were funded. Of those projects that were funded, two involved the installation of solar panels, 14 involved energy efficiency upgrades and one involved a home-based business retrofitting the applicant s existing sport utility vehicle to compressed natural gas (CNG) and installing a CNG station at their home.

10 Although funding for the program has been exhausted, the city is actively searching for additional funds to continue the program in the future. city of Santa Clarita Best Practice Activities Institute for Local Government 5 2. Water & Wastewater Systems Level Completed Activities Reported Silver 1. Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) Programs: Starting in 2007, the city of Santa Clarita began to transition its irrigation controls in Landscape Maintenance District areas from timed control to an internet based central irrigation management and control system. As of 2010 approximately 35% of all irrigation controls in the city s LMD areas (over 170 units) have been replaced with new, internet-based smart controllers.